Home › Amphibia › Pyxicephalidae › African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus)
SPECIES PROFILE
African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus)
Pyxicephalus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Amphibia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Southern and East Africa
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Wetlands, savannas, seasonal pools
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Amphibia
ORDER
Anura
FAMILY
Pyxicephalidae
GENUS
Pyxicephalus
📋 Description
SIZE
20-25 cm, 1-2 kg
COLORATION
Olive-green with yellow throat (males)
ADAPTATIONS
Large mouth for prey; burrows in dry season
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Wetlands, savannas, seasonal pools
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Southern and East Africa
REPRODUCTION
Thousands of eggs; tadpoles in 2-3 weeks
DIET DETAILS
Insects, small vertebrates, other frogs
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss, predation
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Voracious Predators: African bullfrogs will eat anything that fits in their gaping mouths, including birds, snakes, and even their own kin, using powerful jaws to gulp prey whole. Their aggression peaks during breeding, when males fiercely guard tadpoles from all comers.
2
Dry Season Sleepers: They survive droughts by burrowing into mud and forming a cocoon from shed skin, entering a dormant state for months until rains return. This adaptation lets them emerge ravenous, ready to feast in newly formed pools.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kafue National Park, Zambia
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
November-March: Wet season triggers breeding with bullfrogs active in pools.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Visit temporary pools at night for calling bullfrogs during game drives.
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